Follow-up on Planning Committee for the Congressional Transit Summit On Paratransit, Wheelchair Taxis and Medicars

Follow-up: Congressional Transit Summit On 

Paratransit, Wheelchair Taxis and Medicars:

We did not return to Washington in May 2014, but rallied in Chicago at the County Building that adjoins City Hall. Trip to Washington May 19-24, 2013 was a success. Just sharing the news with those who are newcomers to the blog about Planning Committee for Transit Summit coordinated by  Dr. Maat of IMPRUVE (Independent Movement of Paratransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality), The Soular Car Project and NPPMA (National Paratransit People's Movement Assembly)

Soular Car Project and Green Paratransit to Be Sub-Topics 

at Future Congressional Transit Summit 

The Soular Car Project is the project that Doug Larson and Sy Bounds established with IMPRUVE through the Green Think Tank for the Disability Community re: accessible, affordable solar-powered and electric cars (NEVs). Green Paratransit refers to an adjunct rider-owned paratransit to supplement though not replace government-run paratransit that includes a fleet of independent cars powered by solar energy.

Your Support is Welcome

Please renew your support to, join, rejoin or donate to IMPRUVE and stay in touch with what we are doing to improve Paratransit, Wheelchair Taxi and Medicars nationally and put people who are disabled (PWDs) , including military vets who are disabled, into green employment, so they can lift themselves out of poverty, followed by seniors, youth, and ex-offenders.
Engineers (Me, EE), students, and experts in nanotechnology  are welcome, too, as advisors and supporters of the Soular Car Project.


Recap of 2013 meetings at the Capitol:

As instructed by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (my Congresswoman) when we met in her Washington office May 21, I made selections for the Planning Committee for the Transit Summit on Paratransit, Wheelchair Taxis and Medicars. She gave me until Tuesday June 4 to organize the Planning Committee and get back to her legislative assistant Brian Laughlin. Brian agreed to work with me to set up the first meeting in early September with the Congresswoman and the Planning Committee. She agreed to get the FTA (Federal Transit Administration) and U.S. HHS (Health and human Services) involved, and Congressman Bobby Rush as co-sponsor with her. Jeanette Exom met with Congressman Rush the same day and on May 23, we both met with U.S. Senator Mark Kirk and had a spirited conversation, but no commitment yet from him, Sen.. Durbin or any member of the Senate or the Senate Banking Committee or transportation subcommittees although all were contacted and we have lobbied or attempted to negotiate with them and the White House for 3 years (4 now as of 2014).

Note: due to cost of travel and work commitments or income considerations, some persons want to participate by remote access, such as: private Google hangout or AnyMeeting or Skype or Tango unless the House has  a special facility for the Planning Committee to meet remotely on the web.

There is a site that hosts videoconferences free during a 30-day trial, but the Planning Committee meeting has been postponed due to other priorities of the Congress that pull Congresswoman Schakowsky away and the human services issues that consume our time locally as well as nationally.  Her staff led by Cathy Hurwit and Brian Laughlin await our next move if we can find the funding to come to Washington again and a videoconference host and room in the Congresswoman's and everyone else's schedule to schedule the meeting in order to finalize plans.   

(See archived records of Committee member names and alternates)